Purifying petroleum oils.



EDWARD WILLIAMS WYNNE, OF LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND.

PURIFYING PETROLEUM OILS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 20, 1908.

Application filed January 4, 1908. Serial No. 409,337.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDW'ARD WVILLIAMS IVYNNE, a subject of the King of Great Britain and Ireland, residing at 35 South John street, Liverpool, England, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Purifying Petroleum Oils, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved process for treating petroleum oils of commerce, for the purpose of eliminating therefrom certain volatile matters,- waxes and tarry matters, which remain in the oil after ordinary refining by distillation. The effect of the presence of these volatile matters in the oil is to render it liable to explode when burning in a domestic lamp or heating stove, by generating a highly dangerous vapor, while the presence of the wax and tarry matters considerably interferes with the illuminating qualities of the oil and quickly cause the wicks to become clogged and choked up.

By means of this invention I thoroughly purify all kinds of petroleum oils, so as to render them absolutely non-explosive when burning in a lamp or stove, and I raise the flash point of same to considerably over 100 F. Abel test. I also find that oils treated according to my invention yield a beautifully clear light of greater brilliancy than has hitherto been obtainable from the ordinary paraflin and petroleum oils now in general use as lamp oils, while at the same time the treatment according to this invention eliminates from these oils all tendency towards smoke and smell when burning in a lamp or stove. To afford this improved oil a distinctive appearance it is proposed to color the same green, red and orange, according to the various qualities and flash points of same.

The improved process acccording to this invention consists as follows. I take 1000 gallons or thereabouts of the oil to be treated and place the same in a tank similar to a cylindrical steam boiler. I then take from 15 to 20 lbs. each of borax, alum and salt, it being understood that the quantities mentioned will vary according to the density and quality of the oil to be treated. These ingredients I place in 12 gallons or thereabouts of boiling water in which they are thoroughly dissolved. I then pour "this mixture into the oil and allow the mass to stand for from 15 to 30 minutes, this period varying according to the quality of the oil, after which I pour from 5 to 15 pints of sulfuric acid into the mass, the proportion of acid employed being relative to the quality of the oil under treatment, and again leave the same to stand for 15 minutes or thereabouts, so as to allow the reagents to work well into the body of the oil; and then the latter commences to yield acid vapors. Ithen agitate the mass for the space of about 30 minutes, after which I run it into another cylindrical tank, in which I heat it by means of a steam jacket or dry steam worm, to a temperature of from 73 to 100 Fahrenheit, this temperature varying according to the quality and density of the oil under treatment, during which period a further quantity of its explosive vapor will become disengaged and escape. Then by means of a perforated pipe placed along the bottom of this tank, said pipe being furnished with a stop cock, I allow a gentle current of atmospheric air to be passed in minute streams through the oil, and this aeration aided by the gentle heat of the steam jacket or worm referred to will carry off the last portion of the dangerous explosive vapor left in the oil. The volume of air which is passed through the oil must be just sufiicient to cause a gentle effervescence therein, and the aeration will be continued from one to three hours, according to the quality of the oil under treatment. The utmost care must be taken to keep the oil at the same temperature during the time such aeration is taking place, and during this part of the process the flash point of the purified oil may be ascertained by the Abel test at intervals. The wax and tarry matters will be found deposited upon the walls of the tank when the process is completed. The purified oil may then be 'stored in suitable receptacles for any length of time without danger of explosion.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is The herein described process for purifying petroleum oils, Which consists in treating such 0115 with borax, alum and salt, dlssolved 1n bolllng Water, 1n the proportions mentioned then allowing the mixture to v 5 stand, then adding thereto sulfuric acid in the proportions mentioned, again allowing the mixture to stand, then agitating the same and finally treating it to a gentle heat and aeration, substantlally as described.

EDWARD WILLIAMS WYNN E.

JAMES A. CoUBRoUGH,

lVitnesses:

S. T. THOMSON, Junr. 

